7. Aunty Lauraine Barlow - "Hearing Country"

Ever felt a strong urge to ‘go bush’, hit the surf, climb a mountain, or just sit by a river?

Respected Aboriginal Elder, Aunty Lauraine Barlow, explains how she can hear Country call and welcome her, and that Country can also tell one when it’s time to go away again to carry on life’s purpose.

Aunty Lauraine also tells us how ‘half-blood’ children were taken from their families and forced to live in the segregated dormitory system at Yarrabah Anglican mission, and how copious files were kept on all Aboriginal people documenting their every move.

Aunty Lauraine shares with us her full Aboriginal name and how she came to be the proud custodian of a beautifully-carved Black Wattle walking stick, and talks about ancestral totems.

We also talk about songlines, Dreaming paths, the living energy of water, and responsibilities that attach to knowing the songs.
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The ‘Act’ Aunty Lauraine refers to when she talks about exemptions was The Aboriginal Protection and Restriction of the Sale of Opium Act 1897 (Qld), now repealed. A link to a copy of the Act is included on the Blog for this episode.